Doctor Who: Enemy of the Daleks (Dr Who Big Finish) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

In the near future those reprehensible fascist pepperpots are gaining a foothold in their ongoing quest for universal domination. A Valkyrie craft flees the battle and makes for the nearest human scientific outpost for assistance... with the Daleks hot in pursuit. This particular outpost though has its own problems - an unknown but decidedly deadly `space plague'.
The Seventh Doctor tries to convince Ace and Hex to stay behind, but Hex wants to use his medical training to aid the wounded whilst Ace, being Ace, wants to join in and fight against the Daleks. In the meantime, The Doctor is doing his interfering thing again, with potentially devastating consequences...

Enemy of the Daleks is a dark and claustrophobic story that gives the Daleks one of their stronger audio stories. Writer David Bishop has created a nefarious world of labour camps and galactic civilisation hanging in the balance, but this drama still accessible and entertaining, without excessive continuity or contrived plot devices.

The regular actors give the script everything they have, and Philip Olivier as Liverpudlian nurse `Hex' really comes into his own here. The novelty has obviously worn off for this particular member of the TARDIS crew, and despite his unrequited adoration for fellow traveller `Ace', Hex seems to be getting to the end of his imperturbable tether. Guest star Kate Ashfield is worthy of a mention as the cowardly Lieutenant Stokes, whilst the remainder of the guest cast all keep their ends up. A gritty parry to the altogether lighter `Magic Mousetrap', this audio story is tough, mean, but altogether worthwhile, and thought-provoking to boot. Highly recommended.

As with the previous release, this one contains one episode of a bonus story 'The Three Companions'; second in a 12 part tale of former companions to the Time Lord who contact one another to discuss a global threat that somehow links them...and The Doctor.

A new four part audio adventure for sylvester mccoy as the seventh doctor with his companions ace and hex.

A few things to mention to those who don't follow this range regularly:

this is part of a three part 'season' with The Magic Mousetrap (Doctor Who) preceding it and the forthcoming The Angel of Scutari (Doctor Who) following. whilst this story does stand on it's own there is some character development for hex at the end that will doubtless come into play in the next story.

It also contains episode two of a twelve part story called the three companions which is being spread over the regular releases in the range at the moment. but this episode is a typical tale of the doctor and companions exploring a strange world and you could pick it up without having heard part one.

enemy of the daleks itself sees the doctor and companions reach the planet bliss. they find a hostile landscape and a human base. for once the doctor isn't manipulating his companions. he tries to keep them out of things. because terrible events are due to happen on the planet. and he has to find out what.

Inside the base is a scientist with a secret. a military unit who have fought the daleks before. and a deadly threat to the aliens from skaro.
Battle is joined. People die. Who will walk away?

This is a superb and engrossing listen, because it models itself very much on war movies and shows the various ways people can react in combat. All of which are superbly acted by the cast. added to which there are moral debates of the kind that the show has done before in other dalek stories, but they are presented in a way that makes them interesting and thought provoking.

superb incidental music makes the battle sequences gripping.

part two of the three companions is a very short episode of little more than ten minutes, but it's also very involving, as it tells of the doctor visiting a strange world that's like a cross between the movies logans run and terminator salvation. clever sound design and strong writing conjure up a nightmarish atmosphere.

so all in all a very strong set of episodes and well worth a listen

This is the hundred and twentyfirst release from Big Finish in their range of full cast audio adventures starring classic Doctor Whos. It stars Sylvester McCoy as Seven, Sophie Aldred as Ace and Philip Olivier as Hex. There are four episodes, roughly 25-30 minutes each, complete with original theme music between each, and cliff hanger endings. This is the second of a trilogy of adventures that will bring Hex more to the fore. Two episodes per disc on 2 discs, and a short booklet with some pictures of the cast and production notes. There are some interviews with cast and crew at the end of the first disc. There is a treat for regular listeners in the form of the second 10 minute segment of a twelve part adventure called `The Three Companions' on the end of disc 2.

The Doctor and his companions land on the planet Bliss, once a byword for paradise. But not all is as it should be (naturally...) and there is danger in the air. Then Daleks arrive and the world changes, especially for Hex who sees the carnage that they can cause first hand for the first time.

It's a highly dynamic and high octane story that puts the pedal to the metal and doesn't let up until the final shattering conclusion. This is accentuated by the above average score that verges into heavy metal at times, but is totally fitting and appropriate to the story. McCoy revels in the character of the Doctor - he know's he has a part to play in the atrocity that is to occur, history tells him it is so. But just what is his part? Sophie Aldred really delivers as Ace, brave but not foolhardy, watching over Hex and fighting one of her greatest fears, the Daleks. Philip Olivier has some meaty material as Hex, his changing attitude to travelling with the Doctor as a result of the amount of death and carnage that e is witnessing. It's a powerful story that does something interesting with the pepperpots. The best ting I can say is that it is just so damned entertaining! I was gripped and immersed in it in a way that I have not been for too many releases. It's a real thrill ride, and one of the best releases in the range. 5 stars.